1359-6004/96 $8.50 Embryo reconstruction by the transfer of a donor nucleus to an enucleated one-cell egg was first proposed by Spemann (1938) to answer the question of nuclear equivalence or ‘Do nuclei change during development?’ By transferring nuclei from increasingly advanced embryonic stages, these experiments were designed to determine at which point the developmental potential of nuclei ...

Blood serum progesterone (P4) levels in donor cows and heifers at donor selection, superovulation, insemination and embryo recovery were investigated. Significant differences in P4 levels in the investigated donors during superovulatory oestrus insemination were observed. The cows with low levels of P4 at insemination (5.8 ± 1.7 nmol/l) showed a better yield and quality of embryos (P<0.01) comp...

In nuclear transfer reconstructed embryos, the co-ordination of donor nuclear and recipient cytoplasmic cell cycle phases is essential to maintain ploidy and prevent DNA damage. However, the stage of the cell cycle at the time of reconstruction and the method of reconstruction may also have a significant impact on the subsequent development of the embryo and fetus through a number of other mech...

The objective was to examine the relationship between ovulatory follicle size and embryo and fetal survival by using circulating concentrations of bovine pregnancy associated glycoproteins (bPAG) to detect the presence of an embryo or fetus and monitor placental function. Before examining the relationship between bPAG, ovulatory follicle size, and embryo and fetal survival, the half-life of bPA...

The aim of the present study was to determine the responses of Black Bengal Goat following synchronization with alfaprostol, superovulation with PMSG and embryo collection with surgical procedure. This research work was carried out at the Department of Surgery and Obstetrics, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) during the period from January to December 2001. Three Flushing schedules have ...

Research to develop a useful method for genetic modification of the chick has been on-going since the first demonstrations in the mouse in the 1980s that genetic modification is an invaluable tool for the study of gene function. Manipulation of the chick zygote is possible but inefficient. Considerable progress has been made in developing potentially pluripotent embryo stem cells and their cont...

The neural crest (NC) represents multipotent cells that arise at the interphase between ectoderm and prospective epidermis of the neurulating embryo. The NC has major clinical relevance because it is involved in both inherited and acquired developmental abnormalities. The aim of this study was to establish an experimental platform that would allow for the integration of human NC cells (hNCCs) i...

The enzyme sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 4 (GPAT4) is involved in the biosynthesis of plant lipid poly-esters. The present study further characterizes the enzymatic activities of three endoplasmic reticulum-bound GPAT4 isoforms of Brassica napus and examines their roles in the development of reproductive organs and the embryo. All three BnGPAT4 isoforms exhibited sn-2 acyltransferase ...

Objective To report a rare successful pregnancy after fertility treatment in a patient with Swyer syndrome. Design Case report. Setting Herts & Essex Fertility Centre, Cheshunt, UK. Patients A 36-year-old patient with 46, XY gonadal dysgenesis. 31 year old husband with normal sperm analysis. Interventions Chromosomal analysis, Saline infusion sonography, Pipelle endometrial scratch, ICS...

A 30 year old nulliparous woman, married for 7 years presented with complaints of lower abdominal pain since a year. Her menstrual history has been regular, associated dysmenorrhea. She gave past surgical right ovarian cystectomy in view chocolate cyst noted on diagnostic laparoscopy. Investigations revealed bilateral complex and an elevated Ca-125 100 units/ml, proceeded salphingo-oopherectomy...